Sunday, 25 July 2010

Busy week but managed another Create 10 layout class, again using up scraps. I made the page almost entirely from bits and pieces left over from a class I did last year, which feels good! I even used the printed manufacturer strips to make a small border.

I have to confess that although I'd kept these papers I was not at all keen on the pastel colours, but I am actually quite pleased with the finished layout. This has encouraged me to try ways of using up papers I am not so keen on.

My mission for August is to use up lots of my existing stash, so I am making a rule - no purchases until I've created at least five pieces of work of some kind. Will I stick to it??? Well, I'll try (willpower never was my strong suit).

Love this pic of me and the other half; it makes me feel happy just looking at it (although have no idea what's going on with his hairdo!!!).

Sunday, 18 July 2010

The technique for class two was to use scraps of paper in long strips to create a layered effect - again I've not exactly followed the class but have rather used the technique. I've used the last of my BG Mellow (boo hoo, love that paper) as all I had left was one piece (background on the page) and a few scraps. The leaves are Stampin' Up stamps which I've scrunched up in my hand to make them look more autumnal.

Next class is flowers so that will be much more of a challenge as I rarely use floral embellishments!

Saturday, 17 July 2010

My first layout for the Create 10 classes (Fri class). I didn't exactly follow the class, but did apply the principles of using leftover scraps of paper and die cut shapes to create my page. The butterflies are chipboard die cuts; I painted them white, then added some red Versamagic ink to the centres, working it outwards with my finger for a graduated look. I then over-stamped with an Inkadinkado cherry blossom stamp. Papers are Kaisercraft.

If you want to see what everyone else has been doing for Create 10 go here.

Friday, 9 July 2010

I finally finished two of the projects from the crop at Exhall I went to a couple of weeks ago. It was organised (very effeciently too I must say) by Claire Wheatley - thank you for your hard work Claire :). Me and my crafty chums had a fabulous day and really enjoyed the classes.

This first layout was my favourite of the classes, which was by Ifa Zainon. I thought the class was really beautiful, and showed me that cost effective crafting (it uses on sheet of card, and literally a tiny part of a 12x12 sheet of patterned paper) can be gorgeous! Of course I changed the class a little to suit my photos (I never was good at following instructions). The pics are of Painswick Rococco Gardens in the Cotswolds. Ifa's blog is here but unfortunately she doesn't seem to have put up a picture of her original LO. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice - it really is pretty, and delicate, and sparkly.

This second layout was part of a class by Jemma Sharrock. Again I changed the layout somewhat, but the basic arrangement of elements is the same. Jemma doesn't seem to have a blog but if you use UKS you can see the original LO in her gallery (username Jimjams). I used my brand new sparkly Cricut Create to make the letters, which I then ultra thicked to make them all glossy like epoxy stickers. Jemma did this technique in her class - I'd not done it for ages and it reminded me how useful my UTEE is!

1) Punch a 2" circle from a Post-It Note. Place bottom centre on a piece of card and ink the card using the Distress Inks (except Mustard Seed), starting with the lightest colour (Wild Honey). Add the inks in layers and blend the inks to create a graduated effect as shown.

2) Remove the mask and ink the sun with Mustard Seed. The go over the edges of the sun with Wild Honey. This is to give a blurred effect around the edge of the sun and blend it into the rest of the card.

3) Stamp the palm tree in black. Cut a piece of paper into a hill shape and, using the paper as a mask, blend black ink around the base of the card as shown. Cover up part of the sun to give the illusion it is setting.

4) Add a border and word. Mat and layer the card as shown.

Pop over to Gingersnaps to see what the rest of the DT created and to play along with our challenge :).

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Today I am sharing a paperbag album I made recently. My dear friend Sue showed me how to create the book on our weekend away - really easy to make but very effective. It's basically three paper bags stuck together and then trimmed to make the staggered effect. I NEED to make more of these so paper bags are now on the ever growing 'must buy' list!

The decoration is my own work. The only change I made to Sue's construction was to make the closure on the book magnetic instead of using a ribbon tie; I wanted the cover design fairly minimal.

The pictures are of Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd-Wright's winter home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, which I visited in 2005 and absolutely loved.

The papers are MME So Sophie, I didn't use a lot of embellishments as you need to keep the pages relatively flat to allow the book to close properly.

It's my turn on Gingersnaps this week so I'll be back on Wed with a card I made :).